Use of an α-amylase modified to improve oxidation stability in a combined desizing and bleaching process

ABSTRACT

A process for simultaneously desizing and bleaching of a sized fabric containing starch or starch derivatives, which process comprises treating the fabric with a bleaching composition and an oxidation stable α-amylase.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 35 U.S.C. 371 national application of PCT/DK94/00371 filed Oct. 5, 1994, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a process for simultaneously desizing and bleaching of a fabric comprising starch or starch-derivatives as well as to the use of an oxidation stable α-amylase for said process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the textile processing industry, α-amylases are traditionally used as auxiliaries in the desizing process to facilitate the removal of starch-containing size which has served as a protective coating on yarns during weaving.

Complete removal of the size coating after weaving is important to ensure optimum results in the subsequent processes, in which the fabric is generally scoured, bleached and dyed. Enzymatic starch break-down is preferred because it does not involve any harmful effect on the fibre material.

In order to reduce processing cost and increase mill throughput, the desizing processing is sometimes combined with the scouring and bleaching steps. In such cases, non-enzymatic auxiliaries such as alkali or oxidation agents are typically used to break down the starch, because traditional α-amylases are not very compatible with high pH levels and bleaching agents. Alternatively, unrealistic high amounts of α-amylases, optionally in protected form, have to be used for such combined processes. The non-enzymatic breakdown of the starch size does lead to some fibre damage because of the rather aggressive chemicals used.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to use α-amylase enzymes having an improved resistance towards or being compatible with oxidation (bleaching) agents at elevated pH, in order to retain the advantages of enzymatic size break down in a time-saving and environmentally desirable simultaneous desizing and bleaching process.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,736 discloses a process for desizing and bleaching performed in a single operation, in which sodium chlorite is used in combination with a strong base, a surface active agent, an activator, and an amylolytic enzyme. However, the use of sodium chlorite is undesirable from an environmental point of view.

EP 119 920 discloses a process for simultaneous desizing and bleaching, in which sodium tetraborate decahydrate is used as buffer in a bath containing hydrogen peroxide, a sequestering agent, an amylase and a surfactant.

In both of the processes described in the above patent publications a relatively high amount of α-amylase is used, presumably in order to compensate for the low oxidation stability of the α-amylases used.

PCT/DK93/00230 discloses α-amylase mutants having improved oxidation stability. The mutants are indicated to be useful for desizing, but their use in a combined desizing and bleaching process is not mentioned.

BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The fact that oxidation stable α-amylases now, for the first time, are available makes it possible to perform a combined enzymatic desizing and bleaching treatment of starch-containing fabrics. Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention relates to a process for simultaneously desizing and bleaching of a sized fabric containing starch or starch derivatives, which process comprises treating the fabric with a bleaching composition and an oxidation stable α-amylase.

It is contemplated that the use of oxidation stable α-amylases in the above process constitute an environmentally desirable alternative to non-enzymatic alkali or oxidation agents used today for desizing and bleaching. Furthermore, the oxidation stable α-amylase may be used in amounts corresponding to the amounts of α-amylase used in today's desizing processes.

In the present context, the term "oxidation stable" is intended to indicate that under conditions prevailing during the combined process of the invention, the oxidation stable α-amylase performs better than the B. licheniformis α-amylase, commercially available from the Applicant under the trade name Termamyl®. Termamyl® is presently considered to be highly useful for desizing, but is less suitable for a combined process due to a relatively low tolerance towards bleaching agents normally used for bleaching. The better performance may, e.g., be measured as described in the section entitled "Determination of oxidation stability" hereinafter.

The term "desizing" is intended to be understood in a conventional manner, i.e. the removal of size from the fabric, the term "scouring" the removal of non-cellulosic materials such as grease, wax, protein, hemi-cellulosic material, pectin, ash, dirt and oil, and term "bleaching" the bleaching of coloured impurities associated with the fibers of the fabric.

The term "simultaneously" is intended to indicate that the desizing and bleaching are carried out in a single operation. This has the obvious advantage that the washing and other treatments normally performed between separately conducted desizing and bleaching steps are no longer required. Thereby, the water and energy demand as well as the demand to different equipment to be used for each of the processes are considerably reduced. Furthermore, depending on the type of fabric to be treated and the nature of impurities present thereon, a scouring effect may be obtained during the performance of the process of the invention. Thus, in such cases, no additional scouring treatment need to be performed.

The term "fabric containing starch or starch derivatives" is intended to indicate any type of fabric, in particular woven fabric prepared from a cellulose-containing material, containing starch or starch derivatives. The fabric is normally made of cotton, viscose, flax and the like. The main part of the starch or starch derivatives present on the fabric is normally size with which the yarns, normally warp yarns, have been coated prior to weaving. In the present context, the term "fabric" is also intended to include garments and other types of processed fabrics.

In a second aspect the invention relates to a composition to be used in a simultaneous desizing and bleaching process, which composition comprises an oxidation stable α-amylase in combination with at least one further component selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, dispersing agents, sequestering agents and emulsifying agents.

In a final aspect the invention relates to the use of an oxidation stable α-amylase for a simultaneous desizing and bleaching process.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The oxidation stable α-amylase

A preferred example of an α-amylase to be used in the process of the invention is one which has been prepared from a parent α-amylase by replacing one or more methionine residues of the parent α-amylase with any amino acid residue different from Cys or Met. Thus, according to the invention the amino acid residues to replace the methionine amino acid residue are the following: Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, and Val.

It has surprisingly been found that the mutant α-amylases prepared as described above exhibit a better activity level and a better stability in the presence of oxidizing agents than prior art mutant amylases.

It is preferred that the oxidation stable α-amylase to be used in the present process is of microbial origin. More particularly, it is preferred that the α-amylase is derivable from a strain of Bacillus. Thus, Bacillus α-amylases exhibit in themselves a high heat stability, and by being mutated as described above, the mutants may exhibit an even better stability, especially in the presence of oxidizing agents.

In the present context the term "derivable" is intended not only to indicate an α-amylase produced by a strain of the organism in question, but also an α-amylase encoded by a DNA sequence isolated from such strain and produced in a host organism transformed with said DNA sequence. Furthermore, the term is intended to indicate an α-amylase which is encoded by a DNA sequence of synthetic and/or cDNA origin and which has the identifying characteristics of the α-amylase in question.

Examples of parent Bacillus α-amylases useful for the present purpose are those derivable from a strain of B. licheniformis, a strain of B. amyloliquefaciens, or a strain of B. stearothermophilus.

The amino acid sequence for a B. licheniformis α-amylase useful for the present purpose is apparent from SEQ ID No. 2 (the corresponding DNA sequence is shown in SEQ ID No. 1). G. L. Gray et al., J. Bacteriol. 166, 635-643, 1986, FR 2665178 and EP 410 498 disclose variants of said α-amylase. The methionine numbers of the B. licheniformis α-amylase are: 8, 15, 197, 256, 304, 366, and 438.

The amino acid sequence for a B. amyloliquefaciens α-amylase useful for the present purpose is apparent from SEQ ID No. 4 (the corresponding DNA sequence is shown in SEQ ID No. 3). Takkinen et al., J. Biol. Chem. 258, 1007-1013, 1983 discloses a variant of said α-amylase. The methionine numbers of these B. amyloliquefaciens α-amylases are: 6, 197, 256, 304, 366, and 438.

The amino acid sequence for a B. stearothermophilus α-amylase useful for the present purpose is apparent from SEQ ID No. 6 (the corresponding DNA sequence is shown in SEQ ID No. 5). G. L. Gray et al., J. Bacteriol. 166, 635-643, 1986 disclose a variant of said α-amylase. The methionine numbers of these B. stearothermophilus α-amylases are: 8, 9, 97, 200, 206, 284, 307, 311, 316, and 437.

Furthermore, a parent α-amylase of fungal origin may be used, e.g. an α-amylase derivable from a strain of the fungal genus Aspergillus. For instance, the parent α-amylase may be derivable from a strain of the fungal species A. oryzae or A. niger. These α-amylases are all well characterized and their entire amino acid sequence is described.

The amino acid sequence for the Asp. oryzae α-amylase (sold commercially as FUNGAMYL®, by Novo Nordisk A/S) is shown in SEQ ID No. 7. The amino acid sequence of an A. niger α-amylase is shown in DK 5126/87.

In a preferred embodiment the parent α-amylase is selected from the group consisting of a B. licheniformis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. stearothermophilus, A. oryzae and A. niger α-amylase, or is a functional analogue of any of said parent α-amylases which

i) comprises an amino acid sequence being at least 60% homologous with the amino acid sequence of the parent α-amylase,

ii) reacts with an antibody raised against the parent α-amylase, and/or

iii) is encoded by a DNA sequence which hybridizes with the same probe as a DNA sequence encoding the parent α-amylase.

Property i) of the analogue is intended to indicate the degree of identity between the analogue and the parent α-amylase indicating a derivation of the first sequence from the second. In particular, a polypeptide is considered to be homologous to the parent α-amylase if a comparison of the respective amino acid sequences reveals an identity of greater than about 60%, such as above 70%, 80%, 85%, 90% or even 95%. Sequence comparisons can be performed via known algorithms, such as the one described by Lipman and Pearson (1985).

The homologous α-amylase may be a genetically engineered α-amylase, e.g. prepared in order to improve one or more properties such as thermostability, acid/alkaline stability, temperature or pH optimum and the like.

The additional properties ii) and iii) of the analogue of the parent α-amylase may be determined as follows:

Property ii), i.e. the immunological cross reactivity, may be assayed using an antibody raised against or reactive with at least one epitope of the parent α-amylase. The antibody, which may either be monoclonal or polyclonal, may be produced by methods known in the art, e.g. as described by Hudson et al., 1989. The immunological cross-reactivity may be determined using assays known in the art, examples of which are Western Blotting or radial immunodiffusion assay, e.g. as described by Hudson et al., 1989. In this respect, immunological cross-reactivity between parent B. licheniformis, B. amyloliquefaciens and B. stearothermophilus α-amylases having the amino acid sequences SEQ ID Nos. 2, 4 and 6, respectively, have been found.

The oligonucleotide probe used in the characterization of the analogue in accordance with property iii) defined above, may suitably be prepared on the basis of the full or partial nucleotide or amino acid sequence of the parent α-amylase. The hybridization may be carried out under any suitable conditions allowing the DNA sequences to hybridize. For instance, such conditions are hybridization under specified conditions, e.g. involving presoaking in 5×SSC and prehybridizing for 1 h at ˜40° C. in a solution of 20% formamide, 5×Denhardt's solution, 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.8, and 50 μg of denatured sonicated calf thymus DNA, followed by hybridization in the same solution supplemented with 100 μM ATP for 18 h at ˜40° C., or other methods described by e.g. Sambrook et al., 1989.

Specific examples of analogues of the B. licheniformis α-amylase comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 2 are Termamyl® (available from Novo Nordisk A/S), Optitherm® and Takatherm® (available from Solvay), Maxamyl® (available from Gist-Brocades), Spezym AA® (available from Genencor), and Keistase® (available from Daiwa).

Specific examples of analogues of the B. amyloliquefaciens α-amylase comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 4 are BAN® (available from Novo Nordisk A/S), Optiamyls® (available from Solvay), Dexlo® and Rapidase® (available from Gist-Brocades), Kazuzase® (a mixed α-amylase and protease product available from Showa Denko).

Specific examples of analogues of the B. stearothermophilus α-amylase comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 6 are Liquozyme 280L® (available from Novo Nordisk A/S) and G-zyme 995® (available from Enzyme BioSystems).

In a preferred embodiment of the process of the invention the oxidation stable α-amylase is prepared from a parent α-amylase by replacing one or more of the methionine amino acid residues with a Leu, Thr, Ala, Gly, Ser, Ile, Asn, or Asp amino acid residue, preferably a Leu, Thr, Ala, or Gly amino acid residue.

In the present context, a mutant α-amylase of particular interest is one, in which the methionine amino acid residue in position 197 in B. licheniformis α-amylase or the methionine amino acid residue in homologous positions in other α-amylases is exchanged. The concept of homologous positions or sequence homology of α-amylases has been explained e.g. in Nakajima, R. et al., 1986, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 23, 355-360 and Liisa Holm et al., 1990, Protein Engineering 3, 181-191. Sequence homology of Bacillus α-amylases from B. licheniformis, B. stearothermophilus and B. amyloliquefaciens are about 60%. This makes it possible to align the sequences in order to compare residues at homologous positions in the sequence. By such alignment of α-amylase sequences the number in each α-amylase sequence of the homologous residues can be found. The homologous positions will probably spatially be in the same position in a three dimensional structure (Greer, J., 1981, J. Mol. Biol. 153, 1027-1042), thus having analogous impact on specific functions of the enzyme in question. In relation to position 197 in B. licheniformis α-amylase the homologous positions in B. stearothermophilus α-amylase are positions 200 and 206, and the homologous position in B. amyloliquefaciens α-amylase is position 197. Experimentally it has been found that these mutants exhibit both an improved activity level and an improved stability in the presence of oxidizing agents.

Accordingly, another type of oxidation stable α-amylases of interest for the present purpose, is an oxidation stable α-amylase prepared by replacing one or both of the methionine amino acid residues in positions 200 and 206 in a parent B. stearothermophilus α-amylase or the methionine amino acid residues in homologous positions in other α-amylases with other amino acid residues as explained above.

The mutant α-amylases disclosed above may be constructed in accordance with established methods, e.g. by use of site-directed mutagenesis.

Process conditions

It will be understood that the combined process of the invention may be performed in accordance with any suitable desizing or bleaching process known in the art, e.g. as described by Olson, E. S. "Textile Wet Processes, Vol. I, Noyes Publication, Park Ridge, N.J., USA (1983), M. Peter und H. K. Rouette, Grundlagen der Textilveredlung, Deutsche Fachverlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (1988). Thus, the process conditions to be used in performing the present invention may be selected so as to match a particular equipment or a particular type of process which it is desirable to use. Preferred examples of process types to be used in connection with the present invention include Jigger/Winch, Pad-Roll and Pad-Steam types. These types are dealt with in further detail below.

The combined process of the invention may be carried out as a batch, semi-continuous or continuous process using steam or the principles of cold-bleaching. As an example the process may comprise the following steps:

(a) Impregnating the fabric in a desizing and bleaching bath containing (as a minimum) an oxidation stable α-amylase and a bleaching agent followed by squeezing out excessive liquid so as to maintain the quantity of liquor necessary for the reaction to be carried out (normally between 60 and 120% of the weight of the dry fabric),

(b) subjecting the impregnated fabric to steaming so as to bring the fabric to the desired reaction temperature, generally between 20° and 120° C., and

(c) holding by rolling up or pleating the cloth in a J-Box, U-Box, carpet machine or the like for a sufficient period of time (normally between a few minutes and several hours) to allow the desizing and bleaching to occur.

As mentioned above, scouring may be an inherent result obtained when performing the combined process of the invention. However, for certain types of fabric it may be advantageous and/or necessary to subject the fabric to a scouring treatment in order to obtain a final product of a desired quality. In such cases, oxidation stable α-amylases disclosed herein may be employed in a combined desizing and scouring process, in particular oxidation stable α-amylases which are sufficiently stable at the high pH values, at which scouring is normally performed. Typically, a combined desizing and scouring process is carried out using a sufficient amount of an oxidation stable α-amylase and a strong alkali, such as NaOH, under conditions known in the art for desizing and scouring to be performed. Subsequently, the fabric resulting from a combined desizing and scouring treatment may be subjected to bleaching.

Normally, the oxidation stable α-amylase and the bleaching composition are added separately to the equipment in which the combined process is to take place. However, the oxidation stable α-amylase may also be mixed with the bleaching composition immediately prior to the combined treatment to be performed.

Although any type of bleaching agent may be used (such as sodium chlorite, sodium hypo chlorit and hydrogen peroxide) in the process of the invention it is preferred that a hydrogen peroxide based bleaching composition is used. Hydrogen peroxide constitutes the most gentle and environmentally friendly bleaching agent available today. The hydrogen peroxide is normally used in the form of a 35% solution and in an amount of 1-50 g/l of bleaching bath liquid, such as in an amount of 5-40 g/l, 5-30 g/l, 10-30 g/l or 30-40 g/l depending on the type of process to be used.

Further components required for the process to be performed are typically added separately. Examples of such components include a stabilizer and a wetting agent. The stabilizer may be an agent stabilizing the hydrogen peroxide (such as water glass (Na2O:SiO2) and a Magnesium salt) so as to control the reactivity of the hydrogen peroxide.

The wetting agent serves to improve the wettability of the fibre whereby a rapid and even desizing and bleaching may be obtained. The wetting agent is preferably of an oxidation stable type.

In a preferred embodiment of the process of the invention, the oxidation stable α-amylase is used in an amount exceeding 1 g/l, preferably in an amount of 1-20 g/l, such as 1-10 g/l, 1-5 g/l or 1-3 g/l. It will be understod that the amount of α-amylase to be used depend on the formulation of the α-amylase product in question.

Irrespective of the particular type of process to be used for the combined desizing and bleaching of the invention, the combined process is normally performed at a temperature in the range of 30-100° C., such as 50-100° C., 80-100° C., 90-100° C. or 90-95° C. and a pH in the range of 6.5-11, such as 9-10.8 or 10.0-10.8 . However, the actual process conditions may vary widely within these ranges as will be apparent from the following disclosure.

Preferred examples of the process conditions to be used in connection with the present invention include:

A batch type process, e.g. of the Jigger/Winch type, using

1-5 g/l of an oxidation stable α-amylase,

6-25 g/l of hydrogen peroxide (35%),

7-14 g/l of stabilizer, e.g. water glass,

0.25-5 g/l of a wetting agent, e.g. Arbyl R, available from Grunau, Germany,

the process being performed at a pH in the range of 10-11 (obtained by addition of NaOH) and a temperature in the range of 90-95° C. (obtained by steaming), typically for 1-2 hours.

A semi-continuous process, e.g. of the Pad-Roll type, using

1-5 g/l of an oxidation stable α-amylase,

30-40 g/l of hydrogen peroxide (35%),

12-30 g/l of stabilizer, e.g. water glass,

0.25-5 g/l of a wetting agent, e.g. Arbyl R,

the process being performed at a pH in the range of 10-11 (obtained by addition of NaOH) and a temperature in the range of 20-40° C., typically for 12-24 hours.

A continuous process, e.g. of the Pad-Steam type, using

1-5 g/l of an oxidation stable α-amylase,

8-25 g/l of hydrogen peroxide (35%),

5-20 g/l of stabilizer, e.g. water glass,

0.25-5 g/l of a wetting agent, e.g. Arbyl R,

the process being performed at a pH in the range of 10-11 (obtained by addition of NaOH) and a temperature in the range of 98-140° C. (steaming), the temperature above 115 preferably being maintained for a few seconds only and the process time typically being 0.5-3 min.

It will be understood that the combined process may be performed in any equipment sufficiently tolerant towards the conditions of the process.

Furthermore, it will be evident that in addition to the oxidation stability of the α-amylase to be used in the process of the invention this amylase should preferably be one which is active at a pH of above 6.5, such as above 9.0. Preferably the oxidation stable α-amylase has a high activity in the pH range of 10-10.8.

Composition of the invention

Although the oxidation stable α-amylase may be added as such it is preferred that it is formulated into a suitable composition. Thus, the oxidation stable α-amylase may be used in the form of a granulate, preferably a non-dusting granulate, a liquid, in particular a stabilized liquid, a slurry, or in a protected form. Dust free granulates may be produced, e.g. as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,991 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,452 (both to Novo Nordisk A/S) and may optionally be coated by methods known in the art.

Liquid enzyme preparations may, for instance, be stabilized by adding a polyol such as e.g. propylene glycol, a sugar or sugar alcohol or acetic acid, according to established methods. Other enzyme stabilizers are well known in the art. Protected enzymes may be prepared according to the method disclosed in EP 238 216.

In principle the composition of the invention comprising an oxidation stable α-amylase may contain any other agent to be used in the combined process of the invention. However, it is preferred that the composition is free from the bleaching agent and other highly oxidizing agents.

The composition of the invention comprises at least one further component selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, dispersing agents, sequestering agents and emulsifying agents. Examples of suitable wetting agents are disclosed above. The emulsifying agent serves to emulsify hydrophobic impurities present on the fabric. The dispersing agent serves to prevent that extracted impurities redeposit on the fabric. The sequestering agent serve to remove ions such as Ca, Mg and Fe, which may have a negative impact on the process and preferred examples include caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) and soda ash (sodium carbonate).

Determination of oxidation stability

The amylase preparation is diluted to an amylase activity of 100 NU/ml (the NU (or KNU which is 1000 NU) amylase activity assay is defined in AF 207/1, which is available on request from Novo Nordisk A/S, and the unit is defined as follows: 1 KNU is the amount of enzyme which, per hour, under standard conditions, dextrinized 5.26 g starch dry substance Merch Amylum solubile, cat. no. 1253) in 50 mM of a Britton-Robinson buffer at pH 6-10 and incubated at 40-90° C. Subsequently H₂ O₂ (35%) is added to a concentration of 1-50 g/l, and the pH value is readjusted to the desired value. the activity is now measured after 15 seconds and after 5, 15, and 30 minutes, the activities are determined as described in AF 207/1 but with a standard curve constructed at the chosen pH and temperature instead of at pH 7.3, 37° C. the results are compared to measurements of a preparation of Termamyl® (available from Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark) under the same conditions.

The following non-limiting examples illustrates the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Comparison of the pH-profile of oxidation stable α-amylase and conventional amylase

Materials and methods

Textile:

100% pure cotton, unbleached, 5 cm×5 cm swatches.

Enzymes:

A: Bacillus licheniformis oxidation stable α-amylase (methionin 197 replaced with leucin, activity 6.2 KNU_(p) /g, prepared by the Applicant, batch A943043K).

B: Bacillus licheniformis α-amylase (Termamyl 120L, activity 142 KNU_(p) /g, commercially available from the Applicant, batch AXR 4025 94-3).

Dosage: 30 KNU_(p) enzyme/100 ml buffer.

Buffer: Britton-Robinson, pH 7 to 11

Dosage: 100 ml buffer/shake flask

100 ml buffer was added to a shake flask and placed in a heated water bath at 85° C. When the buffer had reached the temperature of 85° C., the enzyme preparation (A or B, respectively) was added together with one swatch. The swatches were treated in a shaking waterbath for 20 minutes at 85° C.

After the enzyme treatment the swatches were washed at 95° C. in 100 ml water containing 2 g of Kieralon CD/liter (a surfactant), followed by rinsing 4 times, each time in 100 ml cold deionized water. Then, the swatches were dried at 105° C. for 10 minutes. After drying the swatches were tested using the conventional TEGEWA method (Method and standard scales obtainable from Verband TEGEWA, Karlstrasse 21, Frankfurt a.M., Germany).

TEGEWA method

The samples of desized fabric were impregnated in a saturated iodine solution (5 ml/100 ml water), rinsed with cold water, and wiped off with filter paper before comparing the (blue) colour intensity with the TEGEWA violet standard scale.

The TEGEWA standard scale ranges from 1 to 9, where 1 is the sized fabric while 9 is the totally desized fabric. A rating above 6 usually corresponds to an acceptable desizing.

The results from the pH experiments are shown in table 1 below.

                  TABLE 1     ______________________________________                         Enzyme B   Enzyme A     pH    Reference     (conventional)                                    (ox. stable)     ______________________________________     7     1             6          7     8     1             5          7     9     1             4          7     10    1             2          5     ______________________________________

The results show that the oxidation stable A-amylase is more pH-stable than the conventional A-amylase (Termamyl).

EXAMPLE 2

The oxidation stable α-amylase was tested and compared with a conventional amylase (Termamyl) in a combined process of desizing/bleaching.

Materials and methods

As described in example 1, and further:

H₂ O₂ concentration: 4, 6, 8, 10, 24 g/l, respectively

NaOH conc.: 0.5, 1.0 g/l, respectively

Stabilizer: 2 g/l (Product No. 1136 from the company Harald Pedersen, Kastanievej 7, 1878 Frb.C, Denmark)

Process temp.: 80° C., 85° C., 95° C., respectively

Process time: 60 minutes (20 min. for temp. 85° C. and 95° C.)

The desizing/bleaching solution was preheated to 80° C. (85° C., 95° C.) in a shake flask, the swatches were added to the solution, and the shake flask was placed in a shaking water bath for 1 hour. The concentration of H₂ O₂ in the solution was monitored by titration immediately before use. The washing/rinsing and evaluation of the treated swatches was as described in example 1.

The results from the desizing/bleaching experiments are shown in table 2 below.

                  TABLE 2     ______________________________________     H.sub.2 O.sub.2           Temp.   NaOH         Reference                                       Enzyme B                                              Enzyme A     g/l   °C.                   g/l     pH   score  score  score     ______________________________________      4    80      0.5     10.1 2      5      7      6    80      0.5     9.9  1      3      6      6    80      1.0     10.1 2      3      5      8    80      1.0     10.2 2      3      5     10    85      0.5     9.6  2      4      5     10    95      0.5     9.5  3      5      6     24    85      0.5     9.1  3      4      6     24    95      0.5     8.7  4      5      7     10    95      1.0     10.0 3      4      5     ______________________________________

The results demonstrate that the oxidation stable A-amylase is more stable at high pH and at high H₂ O₂ concentrations than the conventional amylase (Termamyl).

References Cited in the Specification

Gray, G. L. et al., J. Bacteriol. 166, 635-643, 1986;

Takkinen et al., J. Biol. Chem. 258, 1007-1013, 1983;

Lipman and Pearson, Science 227, 1435 (1985);

Hudson, L., and Hay, F., Practical Immunology, Third edition (1989), Blackwell Scientific Publications;

Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor, 1989;

Nakajima, R. et al., 1986, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 23, 355-360;

Liisa Holm et al., 1990, Protein Engineering 3, 181-191;

Greer, J., 1981, J. Mol. Biol. 153, 1027-1042;

Olson, E. S. "Textile Wet Processes, Vol. I, Noyes Publication, Park Ridge, N.J., USA (1983);

M. Peter und H. K. Rouette, Grundlagen der Textilveredlung, Deutsche Fachverlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (1988);

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING     - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:     -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 7     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1920 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: CDS               (B) LOCATION: 334..1869     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: sig.sub.-- - #peptide               (B) LOCATION: 334..420     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: mat.sub.-- - #peptide               (B) LOCATION: 421..1869     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:     - CGGAAGATTG GAAGTACAAA AATAAGCAAA AGATTGTCAA TCATGTCATG AG - #CCATGCGG       60     - GAGACGGAAA AATCGTCTTA ATGCACGATA TTTATGCAAC GTTCGCAGAT GC - #TGCTGAAG      120     - AGATTATTAA AAAGCTGAAA GCAAAAGGCT ATCAATTGGT AACTGTATCT CA - #GCTTGAAG      180     - AAGTGAAGAA GCAGAGAGGC TATTGAATAA ATGAGTAGAA GCGCCATATC GG - #CGCTTTTC      240     - TTTTGGAAGA AAATATAGGG AAAATGGTAC TTGTTAAAAA TTCGGAATAT TT - #ATACAACA      300     - TCATATGTTT CACATTGAAA GGGGAGGAGA ATC ATG AAA CAA CA - #A AAA CGG CTT      354     # Met Lys Gln Gln Lys Arg Leu     25     - TAC GCC CGA TTG CTG ACG CTG TTA TTT GCG CT - #C ATC TTC TTG CTG CCT      402     Tyr Ala Arg Leu Leu Thr Leu Leu Phe Ala Le - #u Ile Phe Leu Leu Pro     10     - CAT TCT GCA GCA GCG GCG GCA AAT CTT AAT GG - #G ACG CTG ATG CAG TAT      450     His Ser Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Asn Leu Asn Gl - #y Thr Leu Met Gln Tyr     #   10     - TTT GAA TGG TAC ATG CCC AAT GAC GGC CAA CA - #T TGG AGG CGT TTG CAA      498     Phe Glu Trp Tyr Met Pro Asn Asp Gly Gln Hi - #s Trp Arg Arg Leu Gln     #                 25     - AAC GAC TCG GCA TAT TTG GCT GAA CAC GGT AT - #T ACT GCC GTC TGG ATT      546     Asn Asp Ser Ala Tyr Leu Ala Glu His Gly Il - #e Thr Ala Val Trp Ile     #             40     - CCC CCG GCA TAT AAG GGA ACG AGC CAA GCG GA - #T GTG GGC TAC GGT GCT      594     Pro Pro Ala Tyr Lys Gly Thr Ser Gln Ala As - #p Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala     #         55     - TAC GAC CTT TAT GAT TTA GGG GAG TTT CAT CA - #A AAA GGG ACG GTT CGG      642     Tyr Asp Leu Tyr Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe His Gl - #n Lys Gly Thr Val Arg     #     70     - ACA AAG TAC GGC ACA AAA GGA GAG CTG CAA TC - #T GCG ATC AAA AGT CTT      690     Thr Lys Tyr Gly Thr Lys Gly Glu Leu Gln Se - #r Ala Ile Lys Ser Leu     # 90     - CAT TCC CGC GAC ATT AAC GTT TAC GGG GAT GT - #G GTC ATC AAC CAC AAA      738     His Ser Arg Asp Ile Asn Val Tyr Gly Asp Va - #l Val Ile Asn His Lys     #                105     - GGC GGC GCT GAT GCG ACC GAA GAT GTA ACC GC - #G GTT GAA GTC GAT CCC      786     Gly Gly Ala Asp Ala Thr Glu Asp Val Thr Al - #a Val Glu Val Asp Pro     #           120     - GCT GAC CGC AAC CGC GTA ATT TCA GGA GAA CA - #C CTA ATT AAA GCC TGG      834     Ala Asp Arg Asn Arg Val Ile Ser Gly Glu Hi - #s Leu Ile Lys Ala Trp     #       135     - ACA CAT TTT CAT TTT CCG GGG CGC GGC AGC AC - #A TAC AGC GAT TTT AAA      882     Thr His Phe His Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly Ser Th - #r Tyr Ser Asp Phe Lys     #   150     - TGG CAT TGG TAC CAT TTT GAC GGA ACC GAT TG - #G GAC GAG TCC CGA AAG      930     Trp His Trp Tyr His Phe Asp Gly Thr Asp Tr - #p Asp Glu Ser Arg Lys     155                 1 - #60                 1 - #65                 1 -     #70     - CTG AAC CGC ATC TAT AAG TTT CAA GGA AAG GC - #T TGG GAT TGG GAA GTT      978     Leu Asn Arg Ile Tyr Lys Phe Gln Gly Lys Al - #a Trp Asp Trp Glu Val     #               185     - TCC AAT GAA AAC GGC AAC TAT GAT TAT TTG AT - #G TAT GCC GAC ATC GAT     1026     Ser Asn Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Me - #t Tyr Ala Asp Ile Asp     #           200     - TAT GAC CAT CCT GAT GTC GCA GCA GAA ATT AA - #G AGA TGG GGC ACT TGG     1074     Tyr Asp His Pro Asp Val Ala Ala Glu Ile Ly - #s Arg Trp Gly Thr Trp     #       215     - TAT GCC AAT GAA CTG CAA TTG GAC GGT TTC CG - #T CTT GAT GCT GTC AAA     1122     Tyr Ala Asn Glu Leu Gln Leu Asp Gly Phe Ar - #g Leu Asp Ala Val Lys     #   230     - CAC ATT AAA TTT TCT TTT TTG CGG GAT TGG GT - #T AAT CAT GTC AGG GAA     1170     His Ile Lys Phe Ser Phe Leu Arg Asp Trp Va - #l Asn His Val Arg Glu     235                 2 - #40                 2 - #45                 2 -     #50     - AAA ACG GGG AAG GAA ATG TTT ACG GTA GCT GA - #A TAT TGG CAG AAT GAC     1218     Lys Thr Gly Lys Glu Met Phe Thr Val Ala Gl - #u Tyr Trp Gln Asn Asp     #               265     - TTG GGC GCG CTG GAA AAC TAT TTG AAC AAA AC - #A AAT TTT AAT CAT TCA     1266     Leu Gly Ala Leu Glu Asn Tyr Leu Asn Lys Th - #r Asn Phe Asn His Ser     #           280     - GTG TTT GAC GTG CCG CTT CAT TAT CAG TTC CA - #T GCT GCA TCG ACA CAG     1314     Val Phe Asp Val Pro Leu His Tyr Gln Phe Hi - #s Ala Ala Ser Thr Gln     #       295     - GGA GGC GGC TAT GAT ATG AGG AAA TTG CTG AA - #C GGT ACG GTC GTT TCC     1362     Gly Gly Gly Tyr Asp Met Arg Lys Leu Leu As - #n Gly Thr Val Val Ser     #   310     - AAG CAT CCG TTG AAA TCG GTT ACA TTT GTC GA - #T AAC CAT GAT ACA CAG     1410     Lys His Pro Leu Lys Ser Val Thr Phe Val As - #p Asn His Asp Thr Gln     315                 3 - #20                 3 - #25                 3 -     #30     - CCG GGG CAA TCG CTT GAG TCG ACT GTC CAA AC - #A TGG TTT AAG CCG CTT     1458     Pro Gly Gln Ser Leu Glu Ser Thr Val Gln Th - #r Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu     #               345     - GCT TAC GCT TTT ATT CTC ACA AGG GAA TCT GG - #A TAC CCT CAG GTT TTC     1506     Ala Tyr Ala Phe Ile Leu Thr Arg Glu Ser Gl - #y Tyr Pro Gln Val Phe     #           360     - TAC GGG GAT ATG TAC GGG ACG AAA GGA GAC TC - #C CAG CGC GAA ATT CCT     1554     Tyr Gly Asp Met Tyr Gly Thr Lys Gly Asp Se - #r Gln Arg Glu Ile Pro     #       375     - GCC TTG AAA CAC AAA ATT GAA CCG ATC TTA AA - #A GCG AGA AAA CAG TAT     1602     Ala Leu Lys His Lys Ile Glu Pro Ile Leu Ly - #s Ala Arg Lys Gln Tyr     #   390     - GCG TAC GGA GCA CAG CAT GAT TAT TTC GAC CA - #C CAT GAC ATT GTC GGC     1650     Ala Tyr Gly Ala Gln His Asp Tyr Phe Asp Hi - #s His Asp Ile Val Gly     395                 4 - #00                 4 - #05                 4 -     #10     - TGG ACA AGG GAA GGC GAC AGC TCG GTT GCA AA - #T TCA GGT TTG GCG GCA     1698     Trp Thr Arg Glu Gly Asp Ser Ser Val Ala As - #n Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala     #               425     - TTA ATA ACA GAC GGA CCC GGT GGG GCA AAG CG - #A ATG TAT GTC GGC CGG     1746     Leu Ile Thr Asp Gly Pro Gly Gly Ala Lys Ar - #g Met Tyr Val Gly Arg     #           440     - CAA AAC GCC GGT GAG ACA TGG CAT GAC ATT AC - #C GGA AAC CGT TCG GAG     1794     Gln Asn Ala Gly Glu Thr Trp His Asp Ile Th - #r Gly Asn Arg Ser Glu     #       455     - CCG GTT GTC ATC AAT TCG GAA GGC TGG GGA GA - #G TTT CAC GTA AAC GGC     1842     Pro Val Val Ile Asn Ser Glu Gly Trp Gly Gl - #u Phe His Val Asn Gly     #   470     - GGG TCG GTT TCA ATT TAT GTT CAA AGA TAGAAGAGC - #A GAGAGGACGG     1889     Gly Ser Val Ser Ile Tyr Val Gln Arg     475                 4 - #80     #        1920      CCGT TTTTTTATTT T     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 512 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:     - Met Lys Gln Gln Lys Arg Leu Tyr Ala Arg Le - #u Leu Thr Leu Leu Phe     15     - Ala Leu Ile Phe Leu Leu Pro His Ser Ala Al - #a Ala Ala Ala Asn Leu     #             1     - Asn Gly Thr Leu Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Ty - #r Met Pro Asn Asp Gly     #      15     - Gln His Trp Arg Arg Leu Gln Asn Asp Ser Al - #a Tyr Leu Ala Glu His     # 35     - Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Ty - #r Lys Gly Thr Ser Gln     #                 50     - Ala Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asp Leu Ty - #r Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe     #             65     - His Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gl - #y Thr Lys Gly Glu Leu     #         80     - Gln Ser Ala Ile Lys Ser Leu His Ser Arg As - #p Ile Asn Val Tyr Gly     #     95     - Asp Val Val Ile Asn His Lys Gly Gly Ala As - #p Ala Thr Glu Asp Val     100                 1 - #05                 1 - #10                 1 -     #15     - Thr Ala Val Glu Val Asp Pro Ala Asp Arg As - #n Arg Val Ile Ser Gly     #               130     - Glu His Leu Ile Lys Ala Trp Thr His Phe Hi - #s Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly     #           145     - Ser Thr Tyr Ser Asp Phe Lys Trp His Trp Ty - #r His Phe Asp Gly Thr     #       160     - Asp Trp Asp Glu Ser Arg Lys Leu Asn Arg Il - #e Tyr Lys Phe Gln Gly     #   175     - Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Ser Asn Glu As - #n Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr     180                 1 - #85                 1 - #90                 1 -     #95     - Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Ile Asp Tyr Asp His Pr - #o Asp Val Ala Ala Glu     #               210     - Ile Lys Arg Trp Gly Thr Trp Tyr Ala Asn Gl - #u Leu Gln Leu Asp Gly     #           225     - Phe Arg Leu Asp Ala Val Lys His Ile Lys Ph - #e Ser Phe Leu Arg Asp     #       240     - Trp Val Asn His Val Arg Glu Lys Thr Gly Ly - #s Glu Met Phe Thr Val     #   255     - Ala Glu Tyr Trp Gln Asn Asp Leu Gly Ala Le - #u Glu Asn Tyr Leu Asn     260                 2 - #65                 2 - #70                 2 -     #75     - Lys Thr Asn Phe Asn His Ser Val Phe Asp Va - #l Pro Leu His Tyr Gln     #               290     - Phe His Ala Ala Ser Thr Gln Gly Gly Gly Ty - #r Asp Met Arg Lys Leu     #           305     - Leu Asn Gly Thr Val Val Ser Lys His Pro Le - #u Lys Ser Val Thr Phe     #       320     - Val Asp Asn His Asp Thr Gln Pro Gly Gln Se - #r Leu Glu Ser Thr Val     #   335     - Gln Thr Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala Tyr Ala Ph - #e Ile Leu Thr Arg Glu     340                 3 - #45                 3 - #50                 3 -     #55     - Ser Gly Tyr Pro Gln Val Phe Tyr Gly Asp Me - #t Tyr Gly Thr Lys Gly     #               370     - Asp Ser Gln Arg Glu Ile Pro Ala Leu Lys Hi - #s Lys Ile Glu Pro Ile     #           385     - Leu Lys Ala Arg Lys Gln Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Al - #a Gln His Asp Tyr Phe     #       400     - Asp His His Asp Ile Val Gly Trp Thr Arg Gl - #u Gly Asp Ser Ser Val     #   415     - Ala Asn Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Ile Thr As - #p Gly Pro Gly Gly Ala     420                 4 - #25                 4 - #30                 4 -     #35     - Lys Arg Met Tyr Val Gly Arg Gln Asn Ala Gl - #y Glu Thr Trp His Asp     #               450     - Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Ser Glu Pro Val Val Il - #e Asn Ser Glu Gly Trp     #           465     - Gly Glu Phe His Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Se - #r Ile Tyr Val Gln Arg     #       480     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 2084 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: sig.sub.-- - #peptide               (B) LOCATION: 250..342     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: CDS               (B) LOCATION: 250..1791     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: mat.sub.-- - #peptide               (B) LOCATION: 343..1791     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:     - GCCCCGCACA TACGAAAAGA CTGGCTGAAA ACATTGAGCC TTTGATGACT GA - #TGATTTGG       60     - CTGAAGAAGT GGATCGATTG TTTGAGAAAA GAAGAAGACC ATAAAAATAC CT - #TGTCTGTC      120     - ATCAGACAGG GTATTTTTTA TGCTGTCCAG ACTGTCCGCT GTGTAAAAAT AA - #GGAATAAA      180     - GGGGGGTTGT TATTATTTTA CTGATATGTA AAATATAATT TGTATAAGAA AA - #TGAGAGGG      240     - AGAGGAAAC ATG ATT CAA AAA CGA AAG CGG ACA GTT - # TCG TTC AGA CTT      288     #Lys Arg Thr Val Ser Phe Arg Leu     20     - GTG CTT ATG TGC ACG CTG TTA TTT GTC AGT TT - #G CCG ATT ACA AAA ACA      336     Val Leu Met Cys Thr Leu Leu Phe Val Ser Le - #u Pro Ile Thr Lys Thr     - TCA GCC GTA AAT GGC ACG CTG ATG CAG TAT TT - #T GAA TGG TAT ACG CCG      384     Ser Ala Val Asn Gly Thr Leu Met Gln Tyr Ph - #e Glu Trp Tyr Thr Pro     #       10     - AAC GAC GGC CAG CAT TGG AAA CGA TTG CAG AA - #T GAT GCG GAA CAT TTA      432     Asn Asp Gly Gln His Trp Lys Arg Leu Gln As - #n Asp Ala Glu His Leu     # 30     - TCG GAT ATC GGA ATC ACT GCC GTC TGG ATT CC - #T CCC GCA TAC AAA GGA      480     Ser Asp Ile Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Trp Ile Pr - #o Pro Ala Tyr Lys Gly     #                 45     - TTG AGC CAA TCC GAT AAC GGA TAC GGA CCT TA - #T GAT TTG TAT GAT TTA      528     Leu Ser Gln Ser Asp Asn Gly Tyr Gly Pro Ty - #r Asp Leu Tyr Asp Leu     #             60     - GGA GAA TTC CAG CAA AAA GGG ACG GTC AGA AC - #G AAA TAC GGC ACA AAA      576     Gly Glu Phe Gln Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Th - #r Lys Tyr Gly Thr Lys     #         75     - TCA GAG CTT CAA GAT GCG ATC GGC TCA CTG CA - #T TCC CGG AAC GTC CAA      624     Ser Glu Leu Gln Asp Ala Ile Gly Ser Leu Hi - #s Ser Arg Asn Val Gln     #     90     - GTA TAC GGA GAT GTG GTT TTG AAT CAT AAG GC - #T GGT GCT GAT GCA ACA      672     Val Tyr Gly Asp Val Val Leu Asn His Lys Al - #a Gly Ala Asp Ala Thr     #110     - GAA GAT GTA ACT GCC GTC GAA GTC AAT CCG GC - #C AAT AGA AAT CAG GAA      720     Glu Asp Val Thr Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Al - #a Asn Arg Asn Gln Glu     #               125     - ACT TCG GAG GAA TAT CAA ATC AAA GCG TGG AC - #G GAT TTT CGT TTT CCG      768     Thr Ser Glu Glu Tyr Gln Ile Lys Ala Trp Th - #r Asp Phe Arg Phe Pro     #           140     - GGC CGT GGA AAC ACG TAC AGT GAT TTT AAA TG - #G CAT TGG TAT CAT TTC      816     Gly Arg Gly Asn Thr Tyr Ser Asp Phe Lys Tr - #p His Trp Tyr His Phe     #       155     - GAC GGA GCG GAC TGG GAT GAA TCC CGG AAG AT - #C AGC CGC ATC TTT AAG      864     Asp Gly Ala Asp Trp Asp Glu Ser Arg Lys Il - #e Ser Arg Ile Phe Lys     #   170     - TTT CGT GGG GAA GGA AAA GCG TGG GAT TGG GA - #A GTA TCA AGT GAA AAC      912     Phe Arg Gly Glu Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Gl - #u Val Ser Ser Glu Asn     175                 1 - #80                 1 - #85                 1 -     #90     - GGC AAC TAT GAC TAT TTA ATG TAT GCT GAT GT - #T GAC TAC GAC CAC CCT      960     Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Va - #l Asp Tyr Asp His Pro     #               205     - GAT GTC GTG GCA GAG ACA AAA AAA TGG GGT AT - #C TGG TAT GCG AAT GAA     1008     Asp Val Val Ala Glu Thr Lys Lys Trp Gly Il - #e Trp Tyr Ala Asn Glu     #           220     - CTG TCA TTA GAC GGC TTC CGT ATT GAT GCC GC - #C AAA CAT ATT AAA TTT     1056     Leu Ser Leu Asp Gly Phe Arg Ile Asp Ala Al - #a Lys His Ile Lys Phe     #       235     - TCA TTT CTG CGT GAT TGG GTT CAG GCG GTC AG - #A CAG GCG ACG GGA AAA     1104     Ser Phe Leu Arg Asp Trp Val Gln Ala Val Ar - #g Gln Ala Thr Gly Lys     #   250     - GAA ATG TTT ACG GTT GCG GAG TAT TGG CAG AA - #T AAT GCC GGG AAA CTC     1152     Glu Met Phe Thr Val Ala Glu Tyr Trp Gln As - #n Asn Ala Gly Lys Leu     255                 2 - #60                 2 - #65                 2 -     #70     - GAA AAC TAC TTG AAT AAA ACA AGC TTT AAT CA - #A TCC GTG TTT GAT GTT     1200     Glu Asn Tyr Leu Asn Lys Thr Ser Phe Asn Gl - #n Ser Val Phe Asp Val     #               285     - CCG CTT CAT TTC AAT TTA CAG GCG GCT TCC TC - #A CAA GGA GGC GGA TAT     1248     Pro Leu His Phe Asn Leu Gln Ala Ala Ser Se - #r Gln Gly Gly Gly Tyr     #           300     - GAT ATG AGG CGT TTG CTG GAC GGT ACC GTT GT - #G TCC AGG CAT CCG GAA     1296     Asp Met Arg Arg Leu Leu Asp Gly Thr Val Va - #l Ser Arg His Pro Glu     #       315     - AAG GCG GTT ACA TTT GTT GAA AAT CAT GAC AC - #A CAG CCG GGA CAG TCA     1344     Lys Ala Val Thr Phe Val Glu Asn His Asp Th - #r Gln Pro Gly Gln Ser     #   330     - TTG GAA TCG ACA GTC CAA ACT TGG TTT AAA CC - #G CTT GCA TAC GCC TTT     1392     Leu Glu Ser Thr Val Gln Thr Trp Phe Lys Pr - #o Leu Ala Tyr Ala Phe     335                 3 - #40                 3 - #45                 3 -     #50     - ATT TTG ACA AGA GAA TCC GGT TAT CCT CAG GT - #G TTC TAT GGG GAT ATG     1440     Ile Leu Thr Arg Glu Ser Gly Tyr Pro Gln Va - #l Phe Tyr Gly Asp Met     #               365     - TAC GGG ACA AAA GGG ACA TCG CCA AAG GAA AT - #T CCC TCA CTG AAA GAT     1488     Tyr Gly Thr Lys Gly Thr Ser Pro Lys Glu Il - #e Pro Ser Leu Lys Asp     #           380     - AAT ATA GAG CCG ATT TTA AAA GCG CGT AAG GA - #G TAC GCA TAC GGG CCC     1536     Asn Ile Glu Pro Ile Leu Lys Ala Arg Lys Gl - #u Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Pro     #       395     - CAG CAC GAT TAT ATT GAC CAC CCG GAT GTG AT - #C GGA TGG ACG AGG GAA     1584     Gln His Asp Tyr Ile Asp His Pro Asp Val Il - #e Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu     #   410     - GGT GAC AGC TCC GCC GCC AAA TCA GGT TTG GC - #C GCT TTA ATC ACG GAC     1632     Gly Asp Ser Ser Ala Ala Lys Ser Gly Leu Al - #a Ala Leu Ile Thr Asp     415                 4 - #20                 4 - #25                 4 -     #30     - GGA CCC GGC GGA TCA AAG CGG ATG TAT GCC GG - #C CTG AAA AAT GCC GGC     1680     Gly Pro Gly Gly Ser Lys Arg Met Tyr Ala Gl - #y Leu Lys Asn Ala Gly     #               445     - GAG ACA TGG TAT GAC ATA ACG GGC AAC CGT TC - #A GAT ACT GTA AAA ATC     1728     Glu Thr Trp Tyr Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Se - #r Asp Thr Val Lys Ile     #           460     - GGA TCT GAC GGC TGG GGA GAG TTT CAT GTA AA - #C GAT GGG TCC GTC TCC     1776     Gly Ser Asp Gly Trp Gly Glu Phe His Val As - #n Asp Gly Ser Val Ser     #       475     - ATT TAT GTT CAG AAA TAAGGTAATA AAAAAACACC TCCAAGCTG - #A GTGCGGGTAT     1831     Ile Tyr Val Gln Lys         480     - CAGCTTGGAG GTGCGTTTAT TTTTTCAGCC GTATGACAAG GTCGGCATCA GG - #TGTGACAA     1891     - ATACGGTATG CTGGCTGTCA TAGGTGACAA ATCCGGGTTT TGCGCCGTTT GG - #CTTTTTCA     1951     - CATGTCTGAT TTTTGTATAA TCAACAGGCA CGGAGCCGGA ATCTTTCGCC TT - #GGAAAAAT     2011     - AAGCGGCGAT CGTAGCTGCT TCCAATATGG ATTGTTCATC GGGATCGCTG CT - #TTTAATCA     2071     #    2084     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 514 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:     - Met Ile Gln Lys Arg Lys Arg Thr Val Ser Ph - #e Arg Leu Val Leu Met     20     - Cys Thr Leu Leu Phe Val Ser Leu Pro Ile Th - #r Lys Thr Ser Ala Val     # 1     - Asn Gly Thr Leu Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Ty - #r Thr Pro Asn Asp Gly     #              15     - Gln His Trp Lys Arg Leu Gln Asn Asp Ala Gl - #u His Leu Ser Asp Ile     #         30     - Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Trp Ile Pro Pro Ala Ty - #r Lys Gly Leu Ser Gln     #     45     - Ser Asp Asn Gly Tyr Gly Pro Tyr Asp Leu Ty - #r Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe     # 65     - Gln Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gl - #y Thr Lys Ser Glu Leu     #                 80     - Gln Asp Ala Ile Gly Ser Leu His Ser Arg As - #n Val Gln Val Tyr Gly     #             95     - Asp Val Val Leu Asn His Lys Ala Gly Ala As - #p Ala Thr Glu Asp Val     #       110     - Thr Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Ala Asn Arg As - #n Gln Glu Thr Ser Glu     #   125     - Glu Tyr Gln Ile Lys Ala Trp Thr Asp Phe Ar - #g Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly     130                 1 - #35                 1 - #40                 1 -     #45     - Asn Thr Tyr Ser Asp Phe Lys Trp His Trp Ty - #r His Phe Asp Gly Ala     #               160     - Asp Trp Asp Glu Ser Arg Lys Ile Ser Arg Il - #e Phe Lys Phe Arg Gly     #           175     - Glu Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Ser Se - #r Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr     #       190     - Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Val Asp Tyr As - #p His Pro Asp Val Val     #   205     - Ala Glu Thr Lys Lys Trp Gly Ile Trp Tyr Al - #a Asn Glu Leu Ser Leu     210                 2 - #15                 2 - #20                 2 -     #25     - Asp Gly Phe Arg Ile Asp Ala Ala Lys His Il - #e Lys Phe Ser Phe Leu     #               240     - Arg Asp Trp Val Gln Ala Val Arg Gln Ala Th - #r Gly Lys Glu Met Phe     #           255     - Thr Val Ala Glu Tyr Trp Gln Asn Asn Ala Gl - #y Lys Leu Glu Asn Tyr     #       270     - Leu Asn Lys Thr Ser Phe Asn Gln Ser Val Ph - #e Asp Val Pro Leu His     #   285     - Phe Asn Leu Gln Ala Ala Ser Ser Gln Gly Gl - #y Gly Tyr Asp Met Arg     290                 2 - #95                 3 - #00                 3 -     #05     - Arg Leu Leu Asp Gly Thr Val Val Ser Arg Hi - #s Pro Glu Lys Ala Val     #               320     - Thr Phe Val Glu Asn His Asp Thr Gln Pro Gl - #y Gln Ser Leu Glu Ser     #           335     - Thr Val Gln Thr Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala Ty - #r Ala Phe Ile Leu Thr     #       350     - Arg Glu Ser Gly Tyr Pro Gln Val Phe Tyr Gl - #y Asp Met Tyr Gly Thr     #   365     - Lys Gly Thr Ser Pro Lys Glu Ile Pro Ser Le - #u Lys Asp Asn Ile Glu     370                 3 - #75                 3 - #80                 3 -     #85     - Pro Ile Leu Lys Ala Arg Lys Glu Tyr Ala Ty - #r Gly Pro Gln His Asp     #               400     - Tyr Ile Asp His Pro Asp Val Ile Gly Trp Th - #r Arg Glu Gly Asp Ser     #           415     - Ser Ala Ala Lys Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Il - #e Thr Asp Gly Pro Gly     #       430     - Gly Ser Lys Arg Met Tyr Ala Gly Leu Lys As - #n Ala Gly Glu Thr Trp     #   445     - Tyr Asp Ile Thr Gly Asn Arg Ser Asp Thr Va - #l Lys Ile Gly Ser Asp     450                 4 - #55                 4 - #60                 4 -     #65     - Gly Trp Gly Glu Phe His Val Asn Asp Gly Se - #r Val Ser Ile Tyr Val     #               480     - Gln Lys     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1814 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: sig.sub.-- - #peptide               (B) LOCATION: 156..257     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: CDS               (B) LOCATION: 156..1802     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: mat.sub.-- - #peptide               (B) LOCATION: 258..1802     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:     - AAATTCGATA TTGAAAACGA TTACAAATAA AAATTATAAT AGACGTAAAC GT - #TCGAGGGT       60     - TTGCTCCCTT TTTACTCTTT TTATGCAATC GTTTCCCTTA ATTTTTTGGA AG - #CCAAACCG      120     #TTT CAC CGC       173A AGGGGGAAGG GCATT GTG CTA ACG     #   Val Leu Thr Phe His Arg     30     - ATC ATT CGA AAA GGA TGG ATG TTC CTG CTC GC - #G TTT TTG CTC ACT GTC      221     Ile Ile Arg Lys Gly Trp Met Phe Leu Leu Al - #a Phe Leu Leu Thr Val     15     - TCG CTG TTC TGC CCA ACA GGA CAG CCC GCC AA - #G GCT GCC GCA CCG TTT      269     Ser Leu Phe Cys Pro Thr Gly Gln Pro Ala Ly - #s Ala Ala Ala Pro Phe     #         1     - AAC GGC ACC ATG ATG CAG TAT TTT GAA TGG TA - #C TTG CCG GAT GAT GGC      317     Asn Gly Thr Met Met Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp Ty - #r Leu Pro Asp Asp Gly     #  20     - ACG TTA TGG ACC AAA GTG GCC AAT GAA GCC AA - #C AAC TTA TCC AGC CTT      365     Thr Leu Trp Thr Lys Val Ala Asn Glu Ala As - #n Asn Leu Ser Ser Leu     #                 35     - GGC ATC ACC GCT CTT TGG CTG CCG CCC GCT TA - #C AAA GGA ACA AGC CGC      413     Gly Ile Thr Ala Leu Trp Leu Pro Pro Ala Ty - #r Lys Gly Thr Ser Arg     #             50     - AGC GAC GTA GGG TAC GGA GTA TAC GAC TTG TA - #T GAC CTC GGC GAA TTC      461     Ser Asp Val Gly Tyr Gly Val Tyr Asp Leu Ty - #r Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe     #         65     - AAT CAA AAA GGG ACC GTC CGC ACA AAA TAC GG - #A ACA AAA GCT CAA TAT      509     Asn Gln Lys Gly Thr Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr Gl - #y Thr Lys Ala Gln Tyr     #     80     - CTT CAA GCC ATT CAA GCC GCC CAC GCC GCT GG - #A ATG CAA GTG TAC GCC      557     Leu Gln Ala Ile Gln Ala Ala His Ala Ala Gl - #y Met Gln Val Tyr Ala     #100     - GAT GTC GTG TTC GAC CAT AAA GGC GGC GCT GA - #C GGC ACG GAA TGG GTG      605     Asp Val Val Phe Asp His Lys Gly Gly Ala As - #p Gly Thr Glu Trp Val     #               115     - GAC GCC GTC GAA GTC AAT CCG TCC GAC CGC AA - #C CAA GAA ATC TCG GGC      653     Asp Ala Val Glu Val Asn Pro Ser Asp Arg As - #n Gln Glu Ile Ser Gly     #           130     - ACC TAT CAA ATC CAA GCA TGG ACG AAA TTT GA - #T TTT CCC GGG CGG GGC      701     Thr Tyr Gln Ile Gln Ala Trp Thr Lys Phe As - #p Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly     #       145     - AAC ACC TAC TCC AGC TTT AAG TGG CGC TGG TA - #C CAT TTT GAC GGC GTT      749     Asn Thr Tyr Ser Ser Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp Ty - #r His Phe Asp Gly Val     #   160     - GAT TGG GAC GAA AGC CGA AAA TTG AGC CGC AT - #T TAC AAA TTC CGC GGC      797     Asp Trp Asp Glu Ser Arg Lys Leu Ser Arg Il - #e Tyr Lys Phe Arg Gly     165                 1 - #70                 1 - #75                 1 -     #80     - ATC GGC AAA GCG TGG GAT TGG GAA GTA GAC AC - #G GAA AAC GGA AAC TAT      845     Ile Gly Lys Ala Trp Asp Trp Glu Val Asp Th - #r Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr     #               195     - GAC TAC TTA ATG TAT GCC GAC CTT GAT ATG GA - #T CAT CCC GAA GTC GTG      893     Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Ala Asp Leu Asp Met As - #p His Pro Glu Val Val     #           210     - ACC GAG CTG AAA AAC TGG GGG AAA TGG TAT GT - #C AAC ACA ACG AAC ATT      941     Thr Glu Leu Lys Asn Trp Gly Lys Trp Tyr Va - #l Asn Thr Thr Asn Ile     #       225     - GAT GGG TTC CGG CTT GAT GCC GTC AAG CAT AT - #T AAG TTC AGT TTT TTT      989     Asp Gly Phe Arg Leu Asp Ala Val Lys His Il - #e Lys Phe Ser Phe Phe     #   240     - CCT GAT TGG TTG TCG TAT GTG CGT TCT CAG AC - #T GGC AAG CCG CTA TTT     1037     Pro Asp Trp Leu Ser Tyr Val Arg Ser Gln Th - #r Gly Lys Pro Leu Phe     245                 2 - #50                 2 - #55                 2 -     #60     - ACC GTC GGG GAA TAT TGG AGC TAT GAC ATC AA - #C AAG TTG CAC AAT TAC     1085     Thr Val Gly Glu Tyr Trp Ser Tyr Asp Ile As - #n Lys Leu His Asn Tyr     #               275     - ATT ACG AAA ACA GAC GGA ACG ATG TCT TTG TT - #T GAT GCC CCG TTA CAC     1133     Ile Thr Lys Thr Asp Gly Thr Met Ser Leu Ph - #e Asp Ala Pro Leu His     #           290     - AAC AAA TTT TAT ACC GCT TCC AAA TCA GGG GG - #C GCA TTT GAT ATG CGC     1181     Asn Lys Phe Tyr Thr Ala Ser Lys Ser Gly Gl - #y Ala Phe Asp Met Arg     #       305     - ACG TTA ATG ACC AAT ACT CTC ATG AAA GAT CA - #A CCG ACA TTG GCC GTC     1229     Thr Leu Met Thr Asn Thr Leu Met Lys Asp Gl - #n Pro Thr Leu Ala Val     #   320     - ACC TTC GTT GAT AAT CAT GAC ACC GAA CCC GG - #C CAA GCG CTG CAG TCA     1277     Thr Phe Val Asp Asn His Asp Thr Glu Pro Gl - #y Gln Ala Leu Gln Ser     325                 3 - #30                 3 - #35                 3 -     #40     - TGG GTC GAC CCA TGG TTC AAA CCG TTG GCT TA - #C GCC TTT ATT CTA ACT     1325     Trp Val Asp Pro Trp Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala Ty - #r Ala Phe Ile Leu Thr     #               355     - CGG CAG GAA GGA TAC CCG TGC GTC TTT TAT GG - #T GAC TAT TAT GGC ATT     1373     Arg Gln Glu Gly Tyr Pro Cys Val Phe Tyr Gl - #y Asp Tyr Tyr Gly Ile     #           370     - CCA CAA TAT AAC ATT CCT TCG CTG AAA AGC AA - #A ATC GAT CCG CTC CTC     1421     Pro Gln Tyr Asn Ile Pro Ser Leu Lys Ser Ly - #s Ile Asp Pro Leu Leu     #       385     - ATC GCG CGC AGG GAT TAT GCT TAC GGA ACG CA - #A CAT GAT TAT CTT GAT     1469     Ile Ala Arg Arg Asp Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Thr Gl - #n His Asp Tyr Leu Asp     #   400     - CAC TCC GAC ATC ATC GGG TGG ACA AGG GAA GG - #G GGC ACT GAA AAA CCA     1517     His Ser Asp Ile Ile Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu Gl - #y Gly Thr Glu Lys Pro     405                 4 - #10                 4 - #15                 4 -     #20     - GGA TCC GGA CTG GCC GCA CTG ATC ACC GAT GG - #G CCG GGA GGA AGC AAA     1565     Gly Ser Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Ile Thr Asp Gl - #y Pro Gly Gly Ser Lys     #               435     - TGG ATG TAC GTT GGC AAA CAA CAC GCT GGA AA - #A GTG TTC TAT GAC CTT     1613     Trp Met Tyr Val Gly Lys Gln His Ala Gly Ly - #s Val Phe Tyr Asp Leu     #           450     - ACC GGC AAC CGG AGT GAC ACC GTC ACC ATC AA - #C AGT GAT GGA TGG GGG     1661     Thr Gly Asn Arg Ser Asp Thr Val Thr Ile As - #n Ser Asp Gly Trp Gly     #       465     - GAA TTC AAA GTC AAT GGC GGT TCG GTT TCG GT - #T TGG GTT CCT AGA AAA     1709     Glu Phe Lys Val Asn Gly Gly Ser Val Ser Va - #l Trp Val Pro Arg Lys     #   480     - ACG ACC GTT TCT ACC ATC GCT CGG CCG ATC AC - #A ACC CGA CCG TGG ACT     1757     Thr Thr Val Ser Thr Ile Ala Arg Pro Ile Th - #r Thr Arg Pro Trp Thr     485                 4 - #90                 4 - #95                 5 -     #00     - GGT GAA TTC GTC CGT TGG ACC GAA CCA CGG TT - #G GTG GCA TGG CCT     1802     Gly Glu Phe Val Arg Trp Thr Glu Pro Arg Le - #u Val Ala Trp Pro     #               515     #     1814     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 549 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:     - Val Leu Thr Phe His Arg Ile Ile Arg Lys Gl - #y Trp Met Phe Leu Leu     20     - Ala Phe Leu Leu Thr Val Ser Leu Phe Cys Pr - #o Thr Gly Gln Pro Ala     5     - Lys Ala Ala Ala Pro Phe Asn Gly Thr Met Me - #t Gln Tyr Phe Glu Trp     #       10     - Tyr Leu Pro Asp Asp Gly Thr Leu Trp Thr Ly - #s Val Ala Asn Glu Ala     # 30     - Asn Asn Leu Ser Ser Leu Gly Ile Thr Ala Le - #u Trp Leu Pro Pro Ala     #                 45     - Tyr Lys Gly Thr Ser Arg Ser Asp Val Gly Ty - #r Gly Val Tyr Asp Leu     #             60     - Tyr Asp Leu Gly Glu Phe Asn Gln Lys Gly Th - #r Val Arg Thr Lys Tyr     #         75     - Gly Thr Lys Ala Gln Tyr Leu Gln Ala Ile Gl - #n Ala Ala His Ala Ala     #     90     - Gly Met Gln Val Tyr Ala Asp Val Val Phe As - #p His Lys Gly Gly Ala     #110     - Asp Gly Thr Glu Trp Val Asp Ala Val Glu Va - #l Asn Pro Ser Asp Arg     #               125     - Asn Gln Glu Ile Ser Gly Thr Tyr Gln Ile Gl - #n Ala Trp Thr Lys Phe     #           140     - Asp Phe Pro Gly Arg Gly Asn Thr Tyr Ser Se - #r Phe Lys Trp Arg Trp     #       155     - Tyr His Phe Asp Gly Val Asp Trp Asp Glu Se - #r Arg Lys Leu Ser Arg     #   170     - Ile Tyr Lys Phe Arg Gly Ile Gly Lys Ala Tr - #p Asp Trp Glu Val Asp     175                 1 - #80                 1 - #85                 1 -     #90     - Thr Glu Asn Gly Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Met Ty - #r Ala Asp Leu Asp Met     #               205     - Asp His Pro Glu Val Val Thr Glu Leu Lys As - #n Trp Gly Lys Trp Tyr     #           220     - Val Asn Thr Thr Asn Ile Asp Gly Phe Arg Le - #u Asp Ala Val Lys His     #       235     - Ile Lys Phe Ser Phe Phe Pro Asp Trp Leu Se - #r Tyr Val Arg Ser Gln     #   250     - Thr Gly Lys Pro Leu Phe Thr Val Gly Glu Ty - #r Trp Ser Tyr Asp Ile     255                 2 - #60                 2 - #65                 2 -     #70     - Asn Lys Leu His Asn Tyr Ile Thr Lys Thr As - #p Gly Thr Met Ser Leu     #               285     - Phe Asp Ala Pro Leu His Asn Lys Phe Tyr Th - #r Ala Ser Lys Ser Gly     #           300     - Gly Ala Phe Asp Met Arg Thr Leu Met Thr As - #n Thr Leu Met Lys Asp     #       315     - Gln Pro Thr Leu Ala Val Thr Phe Val Asp As - #n His Asp Thr Glu Pro     #   330     - Gly Gln Ala Leu Gln Ser Trp Val Asp Pro Tr - #p Phe Lys Pro Leu Ala     335                 3 - #40                 3 - #45                 3 -     #50     - Tyr Ala Phe Ile Leu Thr Arg Gln Glu Gly Ty - #r Pro Cys Val Phe Tyr     #               365     - Gly Asp Tyr Tyr Gly Ile Pro Gln Tyr Asn Il - #e Pro Ser Leu Lys Ser     #           380     - Lys Ile Asp Pro Leu Leu Ile Ala Arg Arg As - #p Tyr Ala Tyr Gly Thr     #       395     - Gln His Asp Tyr Leu Asp His Ser Asp Ile Il - #e Gly Trp Thr Arg Glu     #   410     - Gly Gly Thr Glu Lys Pro Gly Ser Gly Leu Al - #a Ala Leu Ile Thr Asp     415                 4 - #20                 4 - #25                 4 -     #30     - Gly Pro Gly Gly Ser Lys Trp Met Tyr Val Gl - #y Lys Gln His Ala Gly     #               445     - Lys Val Phe Tyr Asp Leu Thr Gly Asn Arg Se - #r Asp Thr Val Thr Ile     #           460     - Asn Ser Asp Gly Trp Gly Glu Phe Lys Val As - #n Gly Gly Ser Val Ser     #       475     - Val Trp Val Pro Arg Lys Thr Thr Val Ser Th - #r Ile Ala Arg Pro Ile     #   490     - Thr Thr Arg Pro Trp Thr Gly Glu Phe Val Ar - #g Trp Thr Glu Pro Arg     495                 5 - #00                 5 - #05                 5 -     #10     - Leu Val Ala Trp Pro                     515     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 1385 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:     - Ser Glu Arg Gly Leu Gly Leu Asn Ile Leu Gl - #u Ala Ser Pro Ala Ser     #                15     - Asn Ala Leu Ala Thr His Arg Pro Arg Ala Le - #u Ala Ala Ser Pro Thr     #            30     - Arg Pro Ala Arg Gly Ser Glu Arg Gly Leu As - #n Ser Glu Arg Ile Leu     #        45     - Glu Thr Tyr Arg Pro His Glu Leu Glu Leu Gl - #u Thr His Arg Ala Ser     #    60     - Pro Ala Arg Gly Pro His Glu Ala Leu Ala Al - #a Arg Gly Thr His Arg     #80     - Ala Ser Pro Gly Leu Tyr Ser Glu Arg Thr Hi - #s Arg Thr His Arg Ala     #                95     - Leu Ala Thr His Arg Cys Tyr Ser Ala Ser As - #n Thr His Arg Ala Leu     #           110     - Ala Ala Ser Pro Gly Leu Asn Leu Tyr Ser Th - #r Tyr Arg Cys Tyr Ser     #       125     - Gly Leu Tyr Gly Leu Tyr Thr His Arg Thr Ar - #g Pro Gly Leu Asn Gly     #   140     - Leu Tyr Ile Leu Glu Ile Leu Glu Ala Ser Pr - #o Leu Tyr Ser Leu Glu     145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -     #60     - Ala Ser Pro Thr Tyr Arg Ile Leu Glu Gly Le - #u Asn Gly Leu Tyr Met     #               175     - Glu Thr Gly Leu Tyr Pro His Glu Thr His Ar - #g Ala Leu Ala Ile Leu     #           190     - Glu Thr Arg Pro Ile Leu Glu Thr His Arg Pr - #o Arg Val Ala Leu Thr     #       205     - His Arg Ala Leu Ala Gly Leu Asn Leu Glu Pr - #o Arg Gly Leu Asn Thr     #   220     - His Arg Thr His Arg Ala Leu Ala Thr Tyr Ar - #g Gly Leu Tyr Ala Ser     225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -     #40     - Pro Ala Leu Ala Thr Tyr Arg His Ile Ser Gl - #y Leu Tyr Thr Tyr Arg     #               255     - Thr Arg Pro Gly Leu Asn Gly Leu Asn Ala Se - #r Pro Ile Leu Glu Thr     #           270     - Tyr Arg Ser Glu Arg Leu Glu Ala Ser Asn Gl - #y Leu Ala Ser Asn Thr     #       285     - Tyr Arg Gly Leu Tyr Thr His Arg Ala Leu Al - #a Ala Ser Pro Ala Ser     #   300     - Pro Leu Glu Leu Tyr Ser Ala Leu Ala Leu Gl - #u Ser Glu Arg Ser Glu     305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -     #20     - Arg Ala Leu Ala Leu Glu His Ile Ser Gly Le - #u Ala Arg Gly Gly Leu     #               335     - Tyr Met Glu Thr Thr Tyr Arg Leu Glu Met Gl - #u Thr Val Ala Leu Ala     #           350     - Ser Pro Val Ala Leu Val Ala Leu Ala Leu Al - #a Ala Ser Asn His Ile     #       365     - Ser Met Glu Thr Gly Leu Tyr Thr Tyr Arg Al - #a Ser Pro Gly Leu Tyr     #   380     - Ala Leu Ala Gly Leu Tyr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gl - #u Arg Val Ala Leu Ala     385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -     #00     - Ser Pro Thr Tyr Arg Ser Glu Arg Val Ala Le - #u Pro His Glu Leu Tyr     #               415     - Ser Pro Arg Pro His Glu Ser Glu Arg Ser Gl - #u Arg Gly Leu Asn Ala     #           430     - Ser Pro Thr Tyr Arg Pro His Glu His Ile Se - #r Pro Arg Pro His Glu     #       445     - Cys Tyr Ser Pro His Glu Ile Leu Glu Gly Le - #u Asn Ala Ser Asn Thr     #   460     - Tyr Arg Gly Leu Ala Ser Pro Gly Leu Asn Th - #r His Arg Gly Leu Asn     465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -     #80     - Val Ala Leu Gly Leu Ala Ser Pro Cys Tyr Se - #r Thr Arg Pro Leu Glu     #               495     - Gly Leu Tyr Ala Ser Pro Ala Ser Asn Thr Hi - #s Arg Val Ala Leu Ser     #           510     - Glu Arg Leu Glu Pro Arg Ala Ser Pro Leu Gl - #u Ala Ser Pro Thr His     #       525     - Arg Thr His Arg Leu Tyr Ser Ala Ser Pro Va - #l Ala Leu Val Ala Leu     #   540     - Leu Tyr Ser Ala Ser Asn Gly Leu Thr Arg Pr - #o Thr Tyr Arg Ala Ser     545                 5 - #50                 5 - #55                 5 -     #60     - Pro Thr Arg Pro Val Ala Leu Gly Leu Tyr Se - #r Glu Arg Leu Glu Val     #               575     - Ala Leu Ser Glu Arg Ala Ser Asn Thr Tyr Ar - #g Ser Glu Arg Ile Leu     #           590     - Glu Ala Ser Pro Gly Leu Tyr Leu Glu Ala Ar - #g Gly Ile Leu Glu Ala     #       605     - Ser Pro Thr His Arg Val Ala Leu Leu Tyr Se - #r His Ile Ser Val Ala     #   620     - Leu Gly Leu Asn Leu Tyr Ser Ala Ser Pro Pr - #o His Glu Thr Arg Pro     625                 6 - #30                 6 - #35                 6 -     #40     - Pro Arg Gly Leu Tyr Thr Tyr Arg Ala Ser As - #n Leu Tyr Ser Ala Leu     #               655     - Ala Ala Leu Ala Gly Leu Tyr Val Ala Leu Th - #r Tyr Arg Cys Tyr Ser     #           670     - Ile Leu Glu Gly Leu Tyr Gly Leu Val Ala Le - #u Leu Glu Ala Ser Pro     #       685     - Gly Leu Tyr Ala Ser Pro Pro Arg Ala Leu Al - #a Thr Tyr Arg Thr His     #   700     - Arg Cys Tyr Ser Pro Arg Thr Tyr Arg Gly Le - #u Asn Ala Ser Asn Val     705                 7 - #10                 7 - #15                 7 -     #20     - Ala Leu Met Glu Thr Ala Ser Pro Gly Leu Ty - #r Val Ala Leu Leu Glu     #               735     - Ala Ser Asn Thr Tyr Arg Pro Arg Ile Leu Gl - #u Thr Tyr Arg Thr Tyr     #           750     - Arg Pro Arg Leu Glu Leu Glu Ala Ser Asn Al - #a Leu Ala Pro His Glu     #       765     - Leu Tyr Ser Ser Glu Arg Thr His Arg Ser Gl - #u Arg Gly Leu Tyr Ser     #   780     - Glu Arg Met Glu Thr Ala Ser Pro Ala Ser Pr - #o Leu Glu Thr Tyr Arg     785                 7 - #90                 7 - #95                 8 -     #00     - Ala Ser Asn Met Glu Thr Ile Leu Glu Ala Se - #r Asn Thr His Arg Val     #               815     - Ala Leu Leu Tyr Ser Ser Glu Arg Ala Ser Pr - #o Cys Tyr Ser Pro Arg     #           830     - Ala Ser Pro Ser Glu Arg Thr His Arg Leu Gl - #u Leu Glu Gly Leu Tyr     #       845     - Thr His Arg Pro His Glu Val Ala Leu Gly Le - #u Ala Ser Asn His Ile     #   860     - Ser Ala Ser Pro Ala Ser Asn Pro Arg Ala Ar - #g Gly Pro His Glu Ala     865                 8 - #70                 8 - #75                 8 -     #80     - Leu Ala Ser Glu Arg Thr Tyr Arg Thr His Ar - #g Ala Ser Asn Ala Ser     #               895     - Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala Leu Ala Leu Glu Ala Le - #u Ala Leu Tyr Ser Ala     #           910     - Ser Asn Val Ala Leu Ala Leu Ala Ala Leu Al - #a Pro His Glu Ile Leu     #       925     - Glu Ile Leu Glu Leu Glu Ala Ser Asn Ala Se - #r Pro Gly Leu Tyr Ile     #   940     - Leu Glu Pro Arg Ile Leu Glu Ile Leu Glu Th - #r Tyr Arg Ala Leu Ala     945                 9 - #50                 9 - #55                 9 -     #60     - Gly Leu Tyr Gly Leu Asn Gly Leu Gly Leu As - #n His Ile Ser Thr Tyr     #               975     - Arg Ala Leu Ala Gly Leu Tyr Gly Leu Tyr Al - #a Ser Asn Ala Ser Pro     #           990     - Pro Arg Ala Leu Ala Ala Ser Asn Ala Arg Gl - #y Gly Leu Ala Leu Ala     #      10050     - Thr His Arg Thr Arg Pro Leu Glu Ser Glu Ar - #g Gly Leu Tyr Thr Tyr     #  10205     - Arg Pro Arg Thr His Arg Ala Ser Pro Ser Gl - #u Arg Gly Leu Leu Glu     #               10401030 - #                1035     - Thr Tyr Arg Leu Tyr Ser Leu Glu Ile Leu Gl - #u Ala Leu Ala Ser Glu     #              10550     - Arg Ala Leu Ala Ala Ser Asn Ala Leu Ala Il - #e Leu Glu Ala Arg Gly     #          10705     - Ala Ser Asn Thr Tyr Arg Ala Leu Ala Ile Le - #u Glu Ser Glu Arg Leu     #      10850     - Tyr Ser Ala Ser Pro Thr His Arg Gly Leu Ty - #r Pro His Glu Val Ala     #  11005     - Leu Thr His Arg Thr Tyr Arg Leu Tyr Ser Al - #a Ser Asn Thr Arg Pro     #               11201110 - #                1115     - Pro Arg Ile Leu Glu Thr Tyr Arg Leu Tyr Se - #r Ala Ser Pro Ala Ser     #              11350     - Pro Ile Leu Glu Thr His Arg Ile Leu Glu Al - #a Leu Ala Met Glu Thr     #          11505     - Ala Arg Gly Leu Tyr Ser Gly Leu Tyr Thr Hi - #s Arg Ala Ser Pro Gly     #      11650     - Leu Tyr Ser Glu Arg Gly Leu Asn Ile Leu Gl - #u Val Ala Leu Thr His     #  11805     - Arg Ile Leu Glu Leu Glu Ser Glu Arg Ala Se - #r Asn Leu Tyr Ser Gly     #               12001190 - #                1195     - Leu Tyr Ala Leu Ala Ser Glu Arg Gly Leu Ty - #r Ala Ser Pro Ser Glu     #              12150     - Arg Thr Tyr Arg Thr His Arg Leu Glu Ser Gl - #u Arg Leu Glu Ser Glu     #          12305     - Arg Gly Leu Tyr Ala Leu Ala Gly Leu Tyr Th - #r Tyr Arg Thr His Arg     #      12450     - Ala Leu Ala Gly Leu Tyr Gly Leu Asn Gly Le - #u Asn Leu Glu Thr His     #  12605     - Arg Gly Leu Val Ala Leu Ile Leu Glu Gly Le - #u Tyr Cys Tyr Ser Thr     #               12801270 - #                1275     - His Arg Thr His Arg Val Ala Leu Thr His Ar - #g Val Ala Leu Gly Leu     #              12950     - Tyr Ser Glu Arg Ala Ser Pro Gly Leu Tyr Al - #a Ser Asn Val Ala Leu     #          13105     - Pro Arg Val Ala Leu Pro Arg Met Glu Thr Al - #a Leu Ala Gly Leu Tyr     #      13250     - Gly Leu Tyr Leu Glu Pro Arg Ala Arg Gly Va - #l Ala Leu Leu Glu Thr     #  13405     - Tyr Arg Pro Arg Thr His Arg Gly Leu Leu Ty - #r Ser Leu Glu Ala Leu     #               13601350 - #                1355     - Ala Gly Leu Tyr Ser Glu Arg Leu Tyr Ser Il - #e Leu Glu Cys Tyr Ser     #              13750     - Ser Glu Arg Ser Glu Arg Ser Glu Arg     #           1385     __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A process for simultaneously desizing and bleaching a sized fabric containing starch or starch derivatives, said process comprising treating the fabric with a bleaching composition and an oxidation stable α-amylase, wherein the α-amylase comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or an analogue of said α-amylase, whichi) is at least 60% homologous with the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, ii) reacts with an antibody raised against said α-amylase, and iii) is encoded by a DNA sequence which hybridizes with the same probe as a DNA sequence encoding the α-amylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the α-amylase is derived from Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens or Bacillus stearothermophilus.
 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the methionine residue in position 197 of the α-amylase of SEQ ID NO:2 has been replaced with an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Leu, Thr, Ala, Gly, Ser, Ile and Asp.
 4. A process for simultaneously desizing and bleaching a sized fabric containing starch or starch derivatives, said process comprising treating the fabric with a bleaching composition and an oxidation stable α-amylase, wherein the α-amylase comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 or an analogue of said α-amylase, whichi) is at least 60% homologous with the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4, ii) reacts with an antibody raised against said α-amylase, and iii) is encoded by a DNA sequence which hybridizes with the same probe as a DNA sequence encoding the α-amylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.
 5. The process of claim 4, wherein the α-amylase is derived from Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens or Bacillus stearothemophilus.
 6. The process of claim 5, wherein the α-amylase is derived from Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens or Bacillus stearothermophilus.
 7. A process for simultaneously desizing and bleaching a sized fabric containing starch or starch derivatives, said process comprising treating the fabric with a bleaching composition and an oxidation stable α-amylase, wherein the α-amylase comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 or an analogue of said α-amylase, whichi) is at least 60% homologous with the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:6, ii) reacts with an antibody raised against said α-amylase, and iii) is encoded by a DNA sequence which hybridizes with the same probe as a DNA sequence encoding the α-amylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.
 8. The process of claim 7, wherein the methionine residue in position 200 and/or 206 of the α-amylase of SEQ ID NO:6 has been replaced with an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Leu, Thr, Ala, Gly, Ser, Ile and Asp.
 9. A process for simultaneously desizing and bleaching of a sized fabric containing starch or starch derivatives, which process comprises treating the fabric with a bleaching composition and an oxidation stable α-amylase, wherein the oxidation stable α-amylase has been prepared from a parent α-amylase by replacing one or more methionine residues of the parent α-amylase with an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Leu, Thr, Ala, Gly, Ser, Ile and Asp.
 10. The process of claim 9, further comprising adding a stabilizer and/or a wetting agent.
 11. The process of claim 9, wherein the bleaching composition is hydrogen peroxide.
 12. The process of claim 11, wherein the oxidation stable α-amylase is used in an amount of 1-10 g/l and/or the hydrogen peroxide is used in an amount of 1-50 g/l.
 13. The process of claim 9, wherein the combined desizing and bleaching process is performed at a temperature in the range of 30-100° C. and a pH in the range of 6.5-11.
 14. The process of claim 9, wherein the oxidation stable α-amylase is used in an amount of 1-5 g/l.
 15. The process of claim 14, wherein the oxidation stable α-amylase is used in an amount of 1-3 g/l.
 16. A composition for use in a simultaneous desizing and bleaching process comprising an oxidation stable α-amylase in combination with at least one further component selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, dispersing agents, sequestering agents and emulsifying agents, wherein the oxidation stable α-amylase has been prepared from a parent α-amylase by replacing one or more methionine residues of the parent α-amylase with an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Leu, Thr, Ala, Gly, Ser, Ile and Asp. 